Two brave souls had the chance to spend Halloween in the imposing medieval fortress, which is located in the Carpathian mountains of Transylvania.

Airbnb ran a global competition to win the spooky stay. To enter, would-be vampire hunters were invited to write a short passage on what they would say if they came “face-to-fang” with Count Dracula. The winners were siblings Tami and Robin, hailing from Ottawa, Canada.

Credit:
Robert Harding Images / Airbnb

They convinced Airbnb’s judges that they were worthy of the spooky stay by explaining that their grandfather “was the world’s leading expert in Gothic Literature, and was considered to be an expert in Dracula."

"We would do just about anything to stay as a guest with the original vampire who inspired him,” they added.

Guests can expect deathly silence while they sleep Credit:
Airbnb

The winners were invited to recreate the story of Stoker’s protagonist Jonathan Harker, arriving at their destination by horse-drawn carriage before dining on a “blood-enriching meal” and bedding down for the night in “luxurious velvet trimmed Dracula coffins.”

Guests will dine on a protein-rich meal Credit:
Airbnb

This year’s competition winners were subject to a series of rules which banned any garlic or “garlic-scented items” from the residence, as well as silver jewellery and holy symbols. The guests were also advised to close all curtains and warned that, “the count is not a fan of mirror selfies.”

Bram Stoker, the author of the 19th century classic, was said to have based Dracula’s residence on Bran Castle – though he only ever read about the monument and never actually visited Romania.

The guests were hosted by Dacre Stoker, the Irish author’s great nephew who is, Airbnb says, “a well-respected vampire expert and passionate advocate of his great uncle’s novel.”

Stoker’s infamous count is partially based on 15th-century Wallachian prince Vlad Dracul, also known as Vlad Tepes (Vlad The Impaler in English) due to his rather gruesome penchant for ramming a spike through his enemies and leaving them to die. Tepes never resided in Bran Castle, though some historians believe he may have been imprisoned there for a short spell.